Public Health, Poison Ivy flyer (in French only):

Poison Ivy: learning to identify it, to better avoid it
If you've ever had a reaction to poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), you have no doubt learned to identify it. The painful blistering caused by poison ivy is not something anyone wants to live more than once. Urushiol, an oily compound found in all parts of the plant, triggers an allergic reaction in 85% of the population.

Although you may not be allergic to urushiol today, it is possible to develop the allergy later on in life. In other words, it is best to avoid the plant as much as possible.

To avoid the plant, one must be able to identify it. The most prominent feature of the plant is the foliage. Each leaf has three leaflets. The leaflet borders are mostly smooth and often have a few coarse teeth. The flowers are small and green and grow at the base of the leaf stems. The fruit are whitish in colour. Certainly the most frustrating characteristic of the plant is that it creeps and therefore may easily spread and cover large patches of land. Usually, poison ivy will favour open or disturbed woods. It will often be found growing at the edge of a forest or small wooded area.

To contract poison ivy, direct contact with the plant is not necessary. One can get a reaction simply by petting an animal that has come into contact with the plant. Your clothing can also transfer urushiol to your skin. Clothing that has come into contact with poison ivy should be washed immediately.

Wash any skin that you think may have come into contact with poison ivy. Use an oil-free soap or go for a refreshing dip in a lake!

If you are a Saint-Lazare resident and think you have poison ivy on your property, you may call 450 424-8000, ext. 248.